Finger print recorder



Jul 2, 1935. P aw. PIERCE 2,006,744

FINGER PRINT RECORDER Filed Nov. 29, 1932 Patented July 2, 1935.

VUNITED STAT-ES PATENT orrics Silas W. Pierce, Benton Harbor, Mich; assignor to Remington Rand Inc., Buffalo, N. Y.

-Application November 29, 1932, Serial No. 644,819

'- {5 Claims.

The present invention relates to 'means for making finger print records. In cases where persons have committed a crime, finger prints of the persons engaged in i the commission. of the crime are frequently. left on tables, chairs, desks, and many other types of articles and parts of buildings in the vicinity of the crime. These are used in numerous cases to locate and identify the criminals. It is, usually customary to examine everything in the vicinity of a crime or other event where identity of the principals is unknown and desired, for the finger prints of the principals. When the finger prints are found they are treated in a well known manher with powder and other ingredients to individualize the lines in the finger print so itmay be photographed and the prints made from the photograph used tracing the identity of the person.

This invention provides a means for directly recording the finger print on a protected transparent record member, by applying a piece of transparent sheet material, coated witha suitable adhesive, to the individualized finger print with the adhesive coating applied to the surface of the article having the finger print. Then the sheet material with its adhesive is removed and the adhesive carries the finger print with it, after which a protective sheet of transparent material is applied to the adhesive coated side of the sheet material toenclose the finger print thereon and provide a permanent finger print record that is an accurate reproduction of the original. This record can be used to make prints of the finger print on sensitized paper.

The invention provides a finger print recorder having a pair of transparent pieces of sheet material secured together by an adhesive that will provide for separation of the members so one may be applied to a. finger print to lift or obtain a record of the finger print that is afterwards protected by pressing the sheets together so the adhesive will hold them in superposed relation. A tab is applied to the recorder so the finger print may be indexed and so the sheets may be more easily manipulated without touching the adhesive in making a record of a finger print.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows the finger print recorder of this invention and a table in perspective with the sheet members separated, one being applied to the surface of the table over an individualized finger print for recording the impression of said finger print.

(oral-4) Fig. 2 shows thefinger print recorderinzperspective .with alifted and recorded finger print after removal from the table, the sheet members being in separated relation.. 1

Fig. 3 shows the finger print recorder in per spective with the parts in complete-assembled relation with a finger print recorded thereon.

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3. i i

A sheet member I of transparent material is 1o provided withan adhesive; coating 2.; A;well known form of adhesive is used that always maintains'a tacky or sticky character so that it will adhere to any surface by pressing it againstthe surface. This adhesive will stick to the original 11';

surface to which it is applied such as sheet member I to such an extent that it may be applied and removed from adhesive engagement with other surfaces without becoming separated from member I. It may, and is generally, called a pressure sensitive adhesive. This adhesive has the further advantage, that it can be removed and re-applied to any surface. To preserve this quality in the adhesive it is usually kept applied to some surface to prevent it from collecting foreign matter. For this and other purposes in connection with this inventionthe sheet member I has the adhesive coated surface 2 thereof applied to a protecting transparent sheet member 3.

The sheet member I is longer than sheet member 3 and the projecting end mounts a tab 4 secured thereto by the adhesive 2. This tab provides a means for manipulating sheet member I with member 3 so as to avoid handling of the adhesive. When sheet members I and 3 arein assembled relation as shown in Fig. 3, tab 4 lies in adjacent relation in the same plane to the member 3. This tab provides an index tab for indexing the recorded finger print.

A finger print is recorded by first putting a coating of powder or other suitable material of well known character on the finger print to indi vidualize the lines of the finger print, as illustrated in Fig. 1 by the individualized finger print 5 on table 6. The finger print recorder is then operated to separate sheet member I from sheet member 3, by pulling the two members apart to the extent shown in Figs. 1 and 2 for example.

Then, sheet member I is applied to the surface of table 6 over finger print 5 which has been 0 The sheet member I is then removed from ad- Q herenceto the table. The finger print will be picked up with the adhesive as shown in Fig.- 2.v

' Sheet members I and '3 are then secured toand determining which side is thetop and which the bottom of the finger print so'it'can always be used and considered inthe proper'position.

This'eliminates the tendency that would oth'erwise occur and result in confusing a right hand finger print with a left hand finger print. In

this way the finger print can alwaysbe printed in the proper. position.

7 The recorder will provide: a permanent finger printrecord and it may be usedfor making prints as often as desired- It can be used; to pick up or lift fingerprints from any surface position with the same facility;

Of course, a finger print recorder of char:

acter' herein described may be used to;directly' record finger prints from the fingers of the individual by applying suitable powder'or other material to the individuals fingers to 'individualize i theadhesive coating of jthe record the lines in the fingers and then impress them on 'The invention claimed is:[ a r 1. A finger printrecorder, comprising a pair of-transparent sheet members, an adhesive bea tween said members sensitive to record a finger print in the separated relation of the members,

said adhesive securing said members in' supera posed relation with said finger record housed bein any 2,000,744 Y Si {1 J tween the members, and a tab attached to said members.

2. A finger print recorder, comprising a pair 7 of transparent sheet members, a pressure sensitive adhesive for recording a finger print, said adhesive securing said members together in superposed relation with the finger print record enclosed between said members, and a transparent index tab secured to saidmembersr 3. A finger print .recorder'ycompris'ing. a pair of transparent sheet members, a pressure sensitive adhesive on one member for detachably securing the other member thereto, said adhesive in the, detached relation of said members being sensitive upon applicationto a finger print to record animpression of said finger. print, saidmembers in attached relation having said finger print in protected relation therebetween, and a manipulating and index "tab secured to one of said members.

4. A finger print recorden-zcoinprising a pair of superposed transparent sheet members, a pres sure sensitive adhesive on one member detachably securing the other member thereto, said adhesive being adapted to record afin'ger print impression, one of said members having a portion extending beyond the other, {and a manipulating .tab secured to said extension.

5. A finger print recordencompr ising a pair of superposed transparent sheet members, a pressure sensitive adhesive on one member detachably securing the otherf member thereto, said adhesivebeing adapted for application in the separated relation of said members to record a finger print, the member provided with saidadhesivehaving an extension projecting beyond the other member, a tab secured to said extension by said adhesive and lying in theplane of the other memher in the attached relation of said members and said other member havingrnarginal portionsextending beyond-said first mentioned member.

SILAS W. PIERCE. 

